Avnet electronics marketing americas launches Avnet LightSpeed

The new business unit will focus on the high brightness illumination product market, which includes applications in interior/exterior architecture, specialty lighting, traffic control, channel letters, large format signage and luminaire design, as well as medical, dental and clinical systems.

Twenty-six year Avnet veteran Cary Eskow has been named director of the new business unit and will be responsible for the overall strategy and success of the Avnet LightSpeed business model. Most recently Eskow was a key member of Avnet Electronics Marketing's technical marketing team. Previous roles include director of field technical programs, area technical director and senior field applications engineer. He also holds two industry patents.

Although high brightness illumination is not a new area of business for Avnet, it is a new specialized unit for the company and marks its commitment to growth and innovation in the market. In addition to distributing the world's foremost LED, high-performance analog and optical/electromechanical products, Avnet LightSpeed offers customers access to a national team of best-in-class technical experts and supply chain management services through its illumination-focused engineers called "illumineers." Illumineers are experienced in LED technology, thermal management, power driver stage and secondary optics.

"The illumination market now provides Avnet with another big opportunity to serve a variety of customers, not unlike what the analog market presented a few years ago," said Jeff Ittel, senior vice president of semiconductors for Avnet Electronics Marketing Americas. "Cary has an understanding and passion for this segment and I look forward to his leadership in shaping our future success."

"Avnet Electronics Marketing is constantly looking for innovative products and new market segments that will provide opportunities for future growth. One such area is the high brightness illumination market," added Phil Gallagher, president of Avnet Electronics Marketing Americas. "Lighting is hot today, and offers a broad array of applications and solutions for homes, offices and landscape treatments. I predict that Cary Eskow will thoroughly enjoy leading this exciting new business."

For more information, please visit:http://www.em.avnet.com/lightspeed .